The Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) at the Durban University of Technology hosted its first-year student orientation at the Courtyard Theatre, Ritson Campus on Friday, 31 March 2023. The annual orientation programme was hosted by FoAD to officially welcome all its first-year students who are based in Durban.
The programme was facilitated by Dr Nokuthula Mavela, who also introduced the students to their respectives Heads of Departments (HOD’s).
Attendees at the FoAD First Year Student Orientation.
The jam-packed programme which was carefully tailored at equipping students with useful information in making a successful transition to university life featured different multiple support units from DUT.
Speakers included representatives from the Writing Centre, Student Support and Development Unit, Student Counselling and Health, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Student Governance and Development, Campus Protection Services and innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
FoAD Faculty officer Pragasen Reddy spoke about the services that the faculty provides. In his presentation, Reddy highlighted the importance of making sure that students are correctly registered, and they appear in all their modulesregisters to avoid having to repeat a module due to not being registered, while FoAD’s Open Access Lab Computer Technician, Sphelele Njapha spoke about the facilities that the Lab offers.
DUT Short Course Unit Director, Professor Collin Thakur shared a keynote address that was titled ‘Online Netiquette: Managing Your Digital Footprint’ which was to educate students to be mindful of their social media platforms.
FoAD Executive Dean, Professor Runette Kruger spoke about the importance of students taking care of themselves during their stay in the university.
“Resilience is an important part of what we hope we can equip students with. I would like to challenge each one of you to get a plant, that you will take care of and water that plant daily or weekly basis. As you take care of this plant, and you see this plant grow remember that this is a metaphor of the importance of nurturing yourself. Positive actions towards yourself is a winning formula for inner resilience. Give yourself the same attention you give the plant,” she said.
Prof Kruger concluded by reminding the students to ensure that they know they belong in the institution and wished them well in their studies.
“If there is one thing that I want you to take home today, it is please remember that you belong, and I wish you all well in your first year, second year and beyond,” added Prof Kruger.
Pictured: FoAD Executive Dean, Professor Runette Kruger speaking to first year students.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.
Sithembile Ndlovu
